1996 JDM RX-7 Type-RS Build Thread
 

This is long overdue!!

Here is my '96 Type-RS weekend/track toy. I've owned it 3.5 years so far.

The Type-RS has additional goodies over some models

• stiffer dampers
• momo steering wheel
• 4.3 final drive
• tight type lsd
• 17" enkei wheels
• 314mm brake discs
• 280ps

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...bedd924b18.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...e7970b27c1.jpg

At the moment it has a few basic mods/upgrades

Recaro drivers seat

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...942f14c3eb.png

ARC Airbox and ARC Super SMIC(double stock thickness)

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...61740166f6.jpg

RE-A Gearknob, RE-A boost gauge mount, period Greddy boost gauge

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...b3cdb2867f.jpg

Mishimoto Radiator

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...108c34c352.jpg

HKS Twin Power

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...939245e437.jpg

Knightsports AST

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...aab4121387.jpg

Dixcel 314mm Heat Treated discs and Extra Speed Pads

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...cde17d1c26.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...9b164e1091.jpg

Exedy Stage One Organic Clutch


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...5e10b89310.jpg

I've done a few track days with the car.

Brands Hatch (twice)

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...ee8ea45c3f.jpg

Bedford Full GT Circuit (on a 30C day - highlighted the need for an upgraded rad!)


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...570edb75f7.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...ebf7aa5bb7.jpg


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...434777ecb0.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...8e2347a989.jpg


Cadwell Park (AKA mini Nurburgring)



https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...2cc46c04bf.jpg


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...486a5dadaa.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...56d1af4a35.jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...f7b6da5b57.jpg

The plan for the car had always been OEM+, i.e. retain the stock twins and do small upgrades over stock to make it a reliable track car.

This morphed somewhat after at least one solenoid failure per year since owning the car.

The last failure happened whilst on track at Cadwell causing me to lose all boost on the secondary turbo roughly 3 hours into the day and resulted in me heading home dejected at lunchtime.

So, retaining the stock twins went out the window, and more goodies were purchased

Turblown EFR 7670 IWG cast manifold kit


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...a3589e7d05.jpg


Greddy V-Mount Kit


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...34d65a3a89.jpg


SMB Twin Pipe 3" rear section



https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...f4e7a47673.jpg



Still to be purchased

• fuelling parts
• ECU (most likely adaptronic modular plugin)
• midpipe
• ohlins
• bushes
• 4.44 Final
• poly bushes, engine mounts, diff mounts

The car is still on her original paint, and whilst it scrubs up OK it wants repainting, all the corrosion sorting, and the underside treating to make it rust proof.

I'm likely to repaint it a metallic green, possibly BMW Oxford Green which looks really dark unless the sun is directly on it


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...69a5dc638f.jpg



https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...d8a06be40c.jpg

Looking good!

Great car, one of the first to have the 17" brakes.

That ARC intercooler is one of the best you can get, that ARC induction box however is one of the worst it pulls air strait from your radiator, stock intake would be a serious upgrade.


"[*]ECU (most likely adaptronic modular plugin)"

I want one of those as well, you are in the same boat as me though, the JDM 96-98 FD3S-4XXXXXXX does not have an adaptronic available. Matter of fact I cannot get them to acknowledge that we have the 16bit harness so I just gave up. Maybe some day I will track down the pin out, translate it, and publish it but have not found the time.

I'll be fabricating a cold air pickup when the turbo and vmount go in :nod:

I had no idea the intercooler was well regarded, to be honest I had no idea ARC did a double thickness SMIC till it appeared for sale on the UK Forums. I'd seen the Trust and RE-A stock mounts.

It's a bit beaten up to be fair.


Yep... my vin is FD3S-4. I had no idea that they didn't make one for our car! Fsck.... :(

How/when did you confirm this with them?

Maybe Power FC it is then.... I bought a PFC+Datalogit about 18mths back, then sold it as I was set on the adaptronic. At least I made a profit on reselling it... :lol:

The most highly regarded SMIC unicorn, MAZDASPEED, was made by ARC only difference is cosmetics. They are both a big deal.

Their website says you can use the same adaptronic on 1993 to 1998... Considering that the harness changed to 16 bit in 1996 that does not work out. Even though they are both the 16Bit harness, you cannot use the 1999+ ones either (aka "Series 8" a designation completely made up with no basis in reality for wikipedia...) because the pin out is different.

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati.../#post11353379

Do you have a link to the pinout for your car ?

Ok - I got what I feel is non-comittal reply from Adaptronic overnight. I'm not filled with confidence.

Basically suck it and see, maybe an agreement to refund if it doesn't work. :(

Apparently this is it

https://www.rx7club.com/attachments/...out-pinout.jpg

taken from here

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...pinout-945347/

Comparing that to the Adaptronic supplied RX7_S8_Sel_pinout.pdf, it seems to match the S8 adaptronic plugin ECU pinout

FD-RX7 Enthusiasts Forum

Also here, pin out for version IV - VI seems to match S8 pinout from Adaptronic.

I think the S8 plugin is the one for my car afterall

There's a guy on the UK forums running the S8 ECU on his 97 RS so it should work on mine. I think.

Guys on the Aus forum seem to think the only wiring difference is AC fan control

Hi Marf,

I apologize for the confusion but this is rather simple. Please email me a picture of your stock ECU connector. Its either going to be an Adaptronic Series 6 ECU or a Adaptronic Series 8 ECU. My email is shawn@turbosource.com

Thanks,
Shawn Christenson

Hi Shawn

Thanks. I will whip off the ECU panel on Saturday and snap some pictures.

Thanks for your offer to help

Cheers

Marf

I went line by line and that wiring diagram posted in the above link is identical to an S8 Adaptronic PNP.

If you open Wari, then load the S8 base map, and open wiring pinout you can look at the wiring diagram( same goes for any unit).

As you can see here( I only uploaded the 1st connector) they are identical. So if you're plug looks like this Marf you need an S8 PNP.

One of Adaptronic's tech guys( mark) has tuned few of these S7 & S8 cars too...

Thanks Elliot. I had a cursory glance over the first 4/5 items for each plug at work when I posted the links, but didn't get a chance yet to check the rest.

Storm in a teacup then, thanks all :)

It is not simple... There is enough English on this page that you can get the idea.

A'PEXi - ?????? - ???FC???????????

Apexi had the 96-98's separated from the 99+ models, they said it is because of fan control. Which is no minor detail.

I would not bet the farm on that link being 100% accurate. My friend has a digital copy of both electrical service manuals I will try to get them from him and translate but it is going to take me quite some time.

At a minimum I would watch things very closely, especially your fan control.

The HKS Fcon harness is the same as 96-02 but it is just a piggy back.

RX-7 | Product List | HKS

New purchases :)

RX7Store Midpipe

Resonated Midpipe 93+ RX-7

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...b110b17991.jpg




Innovate LC2+sensor+serial patch cable


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...83d5196dfb.jpg


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...e8be5eaf35.jpg

Right then

Here's my ECU plugs(and my unholy army of the night)

Attachment 609880

and here are the plugs connected

Attachment 609881

Series 8

As I suspected. Thanks Shawn.

So my rear dampers are shot to bits. I cannot justify spending out on a set of Ohlins right now, so just picked these up from Japan


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...4f06a22b3c.jpg

Bilsteins taken from a 2000 RS model. They've covered around 15000km

I've got these one my 96 RZ they ride great.


also for the ECU issue im not sure how adaptronic deals with it but the 96-98 powerFC does not work on 99+ just tried it last week on a friends car and car would crank but not start up. plug back into my car car fires up just fine.

A'PEXi lists the exact same manual for the 96-02 so im not sure if thats a thing.

There's a guy here in the UK running his 97 FD3S4 on the S8 adaptronic plugin, ditto a guy on the Australian forums. The only question mark is over AC fan function which if present can apparently be sorted by adding a wire to the loom plug.

Waiting on further details on it from the Aus forum.

Good to hear the suspension is up to par. Do you use your car on track?

No track use just street. It is a little stiff but definitely not rockhard.

Bit more info on the ECU compatibility here

FD-RX7 Enthusiasts Forum


Hopefully should be receiving mine this week.

Midpipe should also land this week

I only need to buy fuelling bits and the battery relocation parts and I'm ready to start fitting everything :icon_tup:

Midpipe's arrived.

Adaptronic has arrived to the supplier, should be with me this week

Bilsteins left Japan today

Buying fuelling bits next week.

ECU arrived today.

I haven't started the car on the ECU as I need to pickup a timing light.

I did hook it up, load up the basemap, calibrate the throttle and check all the aux outputs though

When I triggered the AirCon output, the fans fired up. I assume this means I'll have no issue? :)

One thing I did notice when triggering the AC output was that the relay clicked on and off a couple of times before catching and starting the fans. Not sure if this is normal or not. The AC hasn't worked for 2.5 years due to leaks in the condensor, so perhaps it's just tired from lack of use?

One other thing I noticed was this behaviour when going WOT

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bpzdh26ris...%2022.mov?dl=0

Look at the MAP value. Is this just accel enrichment in action?

Reply from Adaptronic support, this is the MAP prediction feature in action. :)

Bilsteins arrived

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...dd95b2185c.jpg



Ordering fuelling bits this week. Still need battery relo parts and some sundries like exhaust and manifold gaskets

Are you able to test temp control fan outputs 1 and 2 as well with just software in the Adaptronic?

I tested all outputs, fans engaged for both AC and water temp triggers.

So today I planned to get the ECU setup properly with timing gun on the RX7, and fix the AC on my Golf which died. Regassed it last week, worked for 2 days then stopped. Compressor not engaging. Diagnostics indicated the AC pressure switch is dead.

I received my timing light yesterday, so this morning I hooked that up to the correct lead, fired up the car on the ECU no problems. Went back round to the engine bay, pull the trigger on the timing light and nothing. Tested all four leads. Nothing.

So I have a dead timing light I assume. 90% of my friends and family have diesel cars so I'm trying to find another petrol car to test it on.

Throwing in the towel on the RX, I move onto the Golf. Head to VW, buy a pressure switch, replace it when I get back home and still no compressor engaging.

FML. Not had a very productive day car wise!

Installation Guide: RX7 S6 FD Plugin ECU


I see that here in step 11, but is that really necessary on a stock vehicle?

If it says it's necessary, I'm going to trust that it's necessary. This step is also in the generic instructions that come with the ECU, and in the S8 setup instructions PDF.

I wouldn't want to lunch my engine because the ignition map is offset...

OK so the timing light does work, I had the inductive pickup the wrong way round :blush:

ECU is now setup and runs the car pretty well.

Next step fit fuelling bits, relocate battery then into the garage and onto the ramps for fitting the turbo/vmount/exhaust up :icon_tup: